# Midsized cities surge as megacities lose residents  
**Published:** 2026-05-18T09:30:17.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/18/repub/southern-midsized-cities-lead-population-gains-between-2024-and-2025/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/midsized-cities-surge-as-megacities-lose-residents

Midsized American cities found a "Goldilocks zone" for growth between 2024 and 2025, bucking a nationwide slowdown that devastated larger metropolitan areas, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau estimates [covered by the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/18/repub/southern-midsized-cities-lead-population-gains-between-2024-and-2025/). [The Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 population estimates, released May 14,](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html) reveal a striking reversal in migration patterns that could reshape America's urban landscape.

[Charlotte, North Carolina, led all U.S. cities with a gain of 20,731 residents, followed by Fort Worth, Texas, with 19,512 new residents.](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html) Other top gainers included Celina, Texas, and Seattle, while major northeastern and western cities suffered startling declines. New York City, which had led the nation in growth the prior year with nearly 163,000 new residents, dropped to dead last with a loss of 12,196 people.

"Big-city growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, with some major hubs even seeing small declines," said Matt Erickson, a statistician in the Census Bureau's Population Division. ["In contrast, midsized cities found a 'Goldilocks zone' where domestic and international migration, paired with new housing, helped prevent the sluggish growth seen in small towns and larger metropolitan centers."](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html)

The shift reflects dramatic changes in immigration patterns. [After immigration surged in recent years — particularly from asylum seekers bused to cities like New York from Texas — immigration retreated from recent historical highs to more typical levels between 2024 and 2025,](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html) according to Census data. Both the Biden and Trump administrations implemented stricter asylum policies during this period.

Lincoln, Nebraska, appears well-positioned within this shifting landscape. [The city grew by 3.19 percent between 2023 and 2024, a much faster growth rate than many of its peer cities,](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/lincoln-surpasses-300000-population-mark-according-to-census-estimate/) driven by affordable housing and robust employment sectors. The region's growth trajectory reflects the pattern that demographers say favors the Midwest. [The median cost of a home in the Midwest was $319,500 in 2025, dramatically lower than in any attractive city on one of the coasts.](https://www.governing.com/urban/the-midwest-revival-a-well-kept-secret)

[The South claimed 11 of the top 12 numeric gains nationwide, while Austin, Texas, became the 12th city with more than a million residents,](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html) reflecting continued Sun Belt momentum despite signs of cooling in some Texas markets. Meanwhile, economic distress in major cities persists: [Los Angeles lost 3,621 residents after ranking seventh in the nation for growth the prior year, and Memphis, Tennessee, lost 4,575.](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html)

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/18/repub/southern-midsized-cities-lead-population-gains-between-2024-and-2025/)
- [U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/vintage-2025-city-town-pop-estimates.html)
- [Nebraska Public Media on Lincoln population growth](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/lincoln-surpasses-300000-population-mark-according-to-census-estimate/)
- [Governing article on Midwest affordability and growth](https://www.governing.com/urban/the-midwest-revival-a-well-kept-secret)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/18/repub/southern-midsized-cities-lead-population-gains-between-2024-and-2025/.